VAD Program

Berlin Heart

The Berlin Heart is a ventricular assist device (VAD), or blood pump, which is not available in the United States, but can be used on an emergency basis to treat heart failure until a heart transplantation procedure can be performed. This “bridge to heart transplant” with the Berlin Heart is allowed by the FDA only on a case-by-case basis. At this point, 12 other pediatric patients in the U.S. have had the Berlin Heart used as a bridge to transplant.

Angel One Dispatch / 1-800-ACH-HELP

Ask to speak to the pediatric intensivist, cardiac intensivist or neonatologist on call, depending on the age of the child and primary problem.